Rotary file



E. A. DAHL ROTARY FILE March 14, 1 961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 6, 1951 E. A. DAHL ROTARY FILE March 14, 1961 Original Filed June 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Unite States Patent ROTARY FILE Ernest A. Dahl, 8114 Lawudale Ave., Skokie, lll.

Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 230,186, June 6, 1951. This application Dec. 24, 1954, Ser. No. 477,523

10 Claims. (Cl. S12-.305)

This invention relates to rotary index tiles wherein a drum with le compartments spaced around its periphery is rotatable to bring any selected compartment into a position where access may be had to the contents of that compartment.

An object of this invention is to provide new or improved means for spreading out or separating cards in the exposed compartment of a rotary file to render said cards readily visible and available.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for retaining cards or the like in the various file compartments against displacement when -the compartments are rotated away from the position wherein the cards or the like customarily are withdrawn or inserted.

A further object of this invention is to provide magnetic means for spreading out or separating cards or the like in a rotary le.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as the construction of a specific embodiment thereof, will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary tile embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the cards iiled in the file;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of the upper portion of the file; v

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a mounting bracket used in the modification of Fig. 7.

This application is a continuation of the application of Ernest A. Dahl, Serial No. 230,186, filed June 6, 1951,

and now abandoned entitled Rotary File.

In the particular form of the invention selected for illustration, the rotary le is of relatively small size and is adapted to be placed on a table or the like, although,

it is to be understood that the file, or at least the cabinet or case thereof, could be of larger size and could rest upon the door. The tile comprises a cabinet or case 10 having side walls 12, end Walls 14, a iioor or bottom wall 16 and a top or upper wall 18. All of the foregoing parts preferably are secured together by welding. The top 18 is centrally apertured to provide' a tile transfer station and spaced, arcuate guide tracks 20 extend through the aperture or opening and down into the casing or cabinet 10. An arcuate cover or door 22 is slidably mounted in the guide track and is shiftable between closed and open portions by means of a knob 23, which knob serves ICC also to determine the fully open and closed positions of the cover or door. Side plates or flanges 24 interconnect the upper portions of the guide tracks 20 and the top w or upper wall 18.

A pair of channel members 26 are secured against the side walls 12 and upstanding from the bottom wall or oor 16 by any suitable means, preferably welding, and

an axle 30 is journaled in suitable bearings carried thereand have upturned edges 42 welded together to form dividers demarcating the compartments. Spacers 44 are secured as by welding to the inner faces of the side plates 36 and serve to separate cards 46 or the like in the file. The dividers 44 may extend from wall to wall, although they preferably extend inwardly only a short distance as best may be seen in Fig. 5.

The cards 46 are retained within the compartmentsv when inverted by retaining plates `4S hinged tothe side plates 36 by hinges 50 and having retaining anges 52 along the upper edges. The upper edges and the retain-4 ing flanges l52 are substantially straight or flat throughout the greater portions of their length yand are arcuate at their ends. The hinges 50 are of the type having springs 54 coiled about their pintles to urge the retaining plates 48 toward one another with the retaining flanges 52 extending past the corners of the cards 46 to retain the cards in the compartment. Each of the hinged retaining plates 4S is provided with Va lever 56 secured at its upper endretaining anges 52 and thereby free the cards 46 for' removal. The cams are positioned suiciently below the y top 18 of the case as to preclude any interference withthe retaining members without necessitating an unusually wide case or cabinet.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4-6, a bracket 60 is secured to each plate 36 adjacent each of the retaining plates 48 and closer to the cards than these 'retaining plates. The brackets are made of aluminum or other non-magnetic material as the parts heretofore enumerated preferably are with the exception of the bearings and camming surfaces. Each bracket is provided with a channel shaped portion 62 having inquite tiexible andare turned flanges 64 and with depending legs 66 near each end, the legs being secured to the plates 36 by screws, rivets, or other suitable fastening means. Each of the brackets 60 holds a bar magnet 68. The magnets 68 are not of conventional construction with opposite poles at opposite ends, but are provided with opposite poles along opposite edges, for instance with the north polel 'along the top edge and the south pole along the bottom l edge as indicated in Fig. 5.

Each of the cards 46 is constructed with very thin tabs or inserts 70 of magnetically susceptible material such as iron. The tabs 70 are sutliciently thin as to be A cam 58 is carried adjacent contained entirely between thedy 3 faces of the cards and therefore the tabs of adjacent cards cannot come in contact with one another.

The bar magnets induce like poles along the top edges of thetabs 70 confronting the magnetsand like poles along the bottoms of all the tabs. With the polarity of the magnets 68 as indicated in Fig. 5, the magnetiepoles induced along the tops of the edges of the tabs 701 (with the cards 46 in upright position) all will be south poles. Accordingly, the lower edges of the tabs would have north poles. Thus, adjacent portions of adjacent tabs are similarly polarized. As is well known, like poles repel one another, and this phenomenon causes the cards 46 to fan out or spread apart where they readily are viewed and quickly are removed.

The rotatable compartments 'are held in position with any given compartment in upright jposition by friction between the cams and the actuating levers 56 and further are held in position positively by a spring loaded plunger 72 extending inwardly from one of the side walls 12 and fitting in any of several apertures in one of the plates or walls 36. The plunger 72 is provided with a handle 74 on the `outside of the wall 12 to retract the plunger.

It is apparent that the cards in any of the compartments other than the uppermost one need not be maintained in fanned out or spread apart relation by the magnets 68. In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown -a modification of my invention wherein only two magnets are utilized rather than the twelve shown in the previous form of the invention. The majority of the parts `of the le are identical with those disclosed heretofore and are identified by similar numerals. The important distinguishing feature in the modification of Figs. 7 and 8 lies in the omission of the several brackets 60 mounted on the plates or walls 36. Only two brackets 76 are utilized, each of the brackets 76 being secured to the under side of one of the tracks 20. Each bracket 76 is provided `with a channel shaped portion having inturned longitudinal flanges 78 supporting a bar magnet 68 as disclosed heretofore. Each bracket 76 further has a central upstanding leg S and an arm 82 arranged at right angles thereto. The arm S2 is secured to the under side of a track 20 by means of screws, rivets or the like. Each of the levers 56 is engaged by a cam 58 sufficiently soon to retract the retaining flanges 52 to clear the upstanding leg 80 of the bracket. It isapparent that the structure of this modification simplifies construction and reduces cost by reducingl the number of parts necessary.

A large number of cards may be tiled inl a comparatively small space in the rotary le disclosed herein'. The magnetic separation of the' cards renders handling of each card unnecessary and cuts down finding andling time a considerable extent. Due to the lack ofhandling, the longevity of the cards is increased considerably over conventional cards. The cam construction used, the bar magnets magnetized with poles along their edges, and the structure for mounting the magnets all contribute to the production of a case or cabinet which need not be of great width compared with the width of the filing cards or the like.

The particular embodiments of my invention shown and described herein will be understood to be illustrative embodiments only. The invention is to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims;

l claim:

l. A rotary tile comprising a rotary carrier, means providing a plurality of` compartments arranged' about the periphery of said carrier and adapted to support a' plurality of file elements such as file cards therein with said file elements each substantially inV a plane substantially parallel to the axis of said carrier, stationary means defining a file transfer station with respect to saidcarrier, means rotatably supporting said carrier frornsaid stationary means with saidcompartments successively positioned adjacent said file transfer station, means adapted' to control said compartments for retaining le elements in said tiles as said carrier is rotated to move said compartments successively to and from said file transfer station, and magnetic means supported adjacent said compartments and adapted to induce magnetic poles 1n magnetically susceptible means included with tile elements in said compartments to cause such tile elements to fan out due to magnetic repulsion, said magnetic means being supported and positioned so as to be operative irrespective of and so as not to interfere with said control means, said magnetic means at said le transfer station being closer to said file elements than are said retaining means.

2. A rotary tile comprising a rotary carrier, means pro viding a plurality of compartments arranged around a periphery of said carrier, and adapted to support a plurality of tile elements therein, stationary means defining a l'e transfer station with respect to said carrier, means rotatably supporting said carrier from said stationary means with said compartments successively positioned adjacent said file transfer station, and magnetic means comprising a plurality of sets of magnets supported from said carrier in fixed relation thereto and arranged arcuately about the opposite ends thereof in alignment with said compartments for inducing magnetic poles in magnetically susceptible means included with file elements in said compartments to cause such file elements to fan out due to magnetic repulsion.

3. A rotary le comprising a rotary carrier, means providing a plurality of compartments arranged around the periphery of said carrier, and adapted to support a plurality of file elements therein, stationary means deining a file transfer station with respect to said carrier, means rotatably supporting said carrier from said stationary means with said compartments successively positioned adjacent said file transfer station, magnetic means comprising a single set of magnets, and means for supporting said single set of magnets from said stationary means in fixed position adjacent said tile transfer station and adjacent said compartments at opposite ends thereof as they are moved into position adjacent said tile transfer station, said magnetic means being adapted to induce magnetic poles in magnetically susceptible means included with le elements in said compartments to cause such tile elements to fan out due to magnetic repulsion.

4. A rotary tile comprising a rotary carrier, means providing a plurality of compartments arranged about the periphery of said carrier and adapted to support a plurality of tile elements therein, stationary means defining a file transfer station with respect to Said carrier, means rotatably supporting said carrier from said stationary means with said compartments successively positioned adjacent said file transfer station, means for retaining tile elements in said tiles as said carrier is rotated to move said compartments in succession to and from said tile transferstation, means adjacent said tile transfer station for positively moving said retaining means away from the iile elements, magnetic means comprising a plurality of sets of magnets, and means for supporting said sets of magnets from said carrier in fixed relation thereto and arranged arcuately about the opposite ends thereof, said magneticmeans at said le transfer station being interposed between said retaining means and said file elements, said magnetic means being adapted to induce magnetic poles in magnetically susceptible means included with tile elements in said compartments to cause such le elements to fan out due to magnetic repulsion.

S. A rotary file comprising a rotary carrier, means providing a' plurality of compartments arranged about the periphery of said carrier and adapted to support a plurality of fileelements, therein, stationary means defining a file transfer station with respect to said carrier, means rotatably supportingsaid carrier from said stationary means with said compartments successively postioned adjacent said le transfer station, means for retaining file elements in said iiles as said carrier is .rotated to move said compartments in succession to and from said Iile transfer station, magnetic means comprising a single set of magnets, and means for supporting said set of magnets from said stationary means in xed position adjacent said file transfer station, said compartments successively being aligned with said set of magnets as the compartments are moved into position adjacent said ile transfer station whereby said magnetic means will induce magnetic poles in magneticaliy susceptible means included with file elements in said compartments to cause such file elements to fan out due to magnetic repulsion.

6. A rotary tile comprising a rotatable drum having a series yof ling compartments arranged around the periphery thereof, stationary means defining a file transfer staftion with respect to said drum, means rotatably supporting said drum from said stationary means with a portion of said drum adjacent said file transfer station, a plurality of retaining members, means for hingedly mounting a plurality of said retaining members on the ends of said drum for hinged movement substantially axially of said drum, there being one hinged member at each end of said drum for each compartment, a ange on each of said hinged members positioned radially outwardly of the periphery of said drum and extending substantially axially of said drum, said hinged members lbeing resiliently biased to cause said ilanges to overlie the compartments of said drum to retain file elements in said compartments, an arm on each of said hinged members extending radially inwardly of said drum from the hinged mounting, a pair of cams, means for iixedly supporting said cams from said stationary means adjacent said iile transfer station and inwardly of said hinged mounting toward the free ends of said arms for cooperation with said arms to force the arms of the hinged members of a compartment aligned with said file transfer station toward one another thereby to retract the flanges from overlying position for withdrawal and insertion of file elements in the compartment aligned with said le transfer station, magnetic means, and means for supporting said magnetic means from said stationary means adjacent the periphery of said drum at opposite ends thereof and adapted to induce magnetic poles in magnetically susceptible members included with tile elements in said compartments to cause such le elements to fan out due to magnetic repulsion.

7. A rotary file as set forth in claim 6 wherein the magnetic means comprises at least one pair of bar magnets polarized along their edges, and the means for supporting the magnetic means comprises at least one pair of holders of non-magnetic material having channel portions adapted slidingly to receive said bar magnets.

8. A rotary le as set forth in claim 6 wherein the means for supporting the magnetic means includes holding portions positioned inwardly of the retaining members forholding said magnetic means inwardly of said retaining members and adjacent file elements in said compartments.

9. A rotary file comprising a rotary carrier, means providing a plurality of compartments arranged about the periphery of said carrier and adapted to support a plurality of file elements such as file cards therein with said le elements each substantially in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of said carrier, stationary means defining a le transfer station with respect to said carrier, means rotatably supporting said carrier from said stationary means with said compartments successively positioned adjacent said le transfer station, retaining means mounted on the ends of said compartments and having anges thereon adapted to overlie le elements in said les as said carrier is rotated to move said compartments successively to and from said le transfer station, said retaining means being movable axially of said carrier for freeing file elements in said compartments, means at said le transfer station for so moving said retaining means, and at least one pair of elongated bar magnets oppositely polarized along the longitudinal edges, said magnets being arranged chordally of said carrier disposed axially outside of said compartments and between such compartments and the adjacent retaining means, said magnets being adapted to induce magnetic poles in magnetically susceptible means included with file elements in said compartments to cause such file elements to fan out due to magnetic repulsion.

l0. A rotary file' as set forth in claim 9 wherein the retainer means comprises a pair of Vrigid plates asso'-V ciated with each compartment, hinge means mounting said plates respectively at the axially opposite ends of each compartment, and spring means biasing said plates toward said compartments to hold the langes thereon in overlying lrelationship relative to said compartments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,639 Mathiesen Feb. l5, 1944 2,343,280 Cory Mar. 7, 1944 i 2,477,786 Bruen Aug. 2, 1949 2,575,745 Carlson Nov. 20, 1951 2,656,091 Mathiesen Oct. 20, 1953 2,698,212 Sevebeck t.....- Dec. 28, 1954 

